Outboard motor steering device



. Dec. 19, 1944.

R. w. PIERON OUTBOARD MOTOR S TEERING DEVICE Filed Feb. 8, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor wigs. pally EMU! Dec. 19, 1944.

R. W. PIERON OUTBOARD MOTOR STEERING DEVICE Filed Feb. 8, 1944 0M0MMM aw;

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Inventor Patented Dec. 19, 1944 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE OUTBOARD MOTOR STEERING DEVICE Rudolph William Pieron, Beaver Dam, Wis. Application February 8, 1944, Serial No. 521,553

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a steering device for outboard motors, and has particular reference to a means for steering an outboard motor boat from a point remote from the outboard motor.

An outboard motor boat is steered by angular adjustment of the outboard motor and propeller, a hand lever being usually provided for this purpose which requires that the operator be stationed adjacent the outboard motor while steering the boat. I The primary object of the present invention is to provied improved means for steering an outboard motor boat from a point remote from the outboard motor, in a convenient and efficient manner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a steering device of the above kind which is adapted for use on boats of various widths, or where the distance between the steering lever on the outboard motor and a side of the boat varies.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a steering device of the above kind which is extremely simple and durable in construction, economical and easy to manufacture and install, and otherwise well adapted to meet the requirements for a successful commercial use.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

.In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a boat having an outboard motor equipped with a steering device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof showing the outboard motor broken away and the motor and steering device in side elevation.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view showing the manner of securing the steering handle in adjusted position on the steering shaft.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view showing the connection between the steering shaft and the adjustable link which connects the steering shaft with the steering lever of the outboard motor.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 5 indicates an ordinary boat of the row boat type, and

2| threaded on said stem 20.

5 indicates generally a conventional outboard motor detachably mounted by means of a clamp 1 upon the stern end of the boat 5. The outboard motor 6 has a shaft 8 extending downwardly through a housing 9 and adapted to operate a propeller, not shown, through bevel gears, not shown, in a well known manner. The outboard motor is angularly adjustable on a horizontal axis I0 and means is provided at I I to secure the adjustment. Also, the motor and propeller are rotatably adjustable about the axis of shaft 8 so that the angular relation of the propeller to the longitudinal axis of the motor may be varied for steering the boat. This turning of the motor and propeller is ordinarily effected by means of a short handle I2 rigid with and projecting forwardly from the motor. Thus far described, the construction is conventional.

In accordance with the present invention, an elongated steering shaft I3 is journaled in a horizontal position upon and parallel with one side wall of the boat 5, suitable bearings It being secured on the upper edge of said side wall at spaced points to rotatably support the shaft I3. Shaft I3 is provided at its rear end with an inwardly and upwardly projecting lateral crank arm I5. Secured to the free end of crank arm I5 is the ball member I6 of a ball and socket joint that includes a socket section I! secured on one end of an adjustable link I8, and a cap section I9 bolted to the section H. The ball member It has a threaded stem 20 passing through an opening in the free end of crank arm I5, as shown in Figure 4 and secured therein by means of nuts The link I8 includes a tubular section carrying the socket section I! and a section or rod 22 slidably telescoped in said tubular section, the latter being provided with set screws 23 adapted to impinge the section 22 so as to secure the link I8 in any desired extended or shortened condition. The other end of link l8, or the free end of the section 22 thereof, has a lateral terminal engaged in an aperture of a clamp 24, as at 25, said clamp 24 being secured on the free end portion of steering lever I 2, as shown clearly in Figures 1 and 2. It will be apparent that the steering device is readily adaptable for use upon boats of various widths because the link I8 may be shortened or lengthened as found necessary for that purpose.

Collars 26 are secured on steering shaft I3 at different sides of the respective bearing I4, so as to prevent endwise or longitudinal movement of steering shaft I3.

The forward end of the steering shaft I3 is shown equipped with a lateral handle 21 consisting of a short pipe section or the like having one end threaded into a sleeve 28 removably slidably fitted on the steerin shaft |3, the end of the handle impinging the shaft l3 so as to secure the handle in place or against sliding longitudinally of the shaft !3 when adjusted to any desired position along the latter. Obviously, the shaft l3 may be of any desired length, and the handle 21 may be positioned at any point along the length thereof so that the steering device may be operated at the most convenient point remote from the outboard motor. It will be noted that the parts of the steering device are extended laterally directly from the outboard motor toa side of the boat at the stern of the latter, and then along a side of the boat, as to be entirely out of the Way and leave the interior of the boat completely free of interfering parts of the steering device.

In operation, the handle 2'! is swung to the right or left as desired so as to correspondingly rotate shaft [3 and thereby swing steering lever 12 through the medium of crank l5 and link l8. In this way the angular relation of the propeller of the outboard motor relative to the longitudinal axis of the motor may be readily varied in an elficient and expeditious manner for steering the boat. It will be seen that the device is comparatively simple, compact and durable, and that it provides a highly efficient device for the intended purpose. Various changes between the angular relation of link I8 with respect to crank 15 and lever 12 are permitted by the ball and socket joint and the pivotal engagement of section 22 in clamp-24.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that'the construction and operation, as well as the advantages of the present invention, will be readil understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. Minor changes in details of construction illustrated and described are contemplated, such as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is:

1. A device for steering a boat equipped with an outboard motor, from a point remote from said outboard motor, comprising a horizontal steering shaft, means for mounting said steering shaft upon and above the upper edge of one side wall of the boat for free rotation, said steering shaft having a lateral upwardly and inwardly inclined crank arm at its rear end adjacent the stern of the boat, means including a telescopically adjustable link connecting said crank arm with the steering lever of the outboard motor, said last-named means including a pivotal connection between the link and said steering lever and a universal joint between the link and said crank arm, and a short lateral operating lever mounted on and projecting inwardly from said steering shaft for rotating the latter. a

2. A device for steering a boat equipped with an outboard motor, from a point remote from said 'outboard motor, comprising a horizontal steering shaft, means for mounting said steering shaft upon and above the upper edge of one side Wall of the boat for free rotation, said steering shaft having a lateral upwardly and inwardly inclined crank arm at itsrear end adjacent the stern of the boat and being of a length to extend for a considerable distance along the side of the boat, means including a telescopically adjustable link connecting said crank arm with the steering lever of the outboard motor, said last-named means including a pivotal connection between the link and said steering lever and a universal joint between the link and said crank arm, and a short lateral operating lever mounted on and projecting inwardly from said steering shaft for rotating the latter, said operatin lever including a sleeve removably and sliclably mounted on said steering shaft for adjustment longitudinally of the latter and a hand grip member threaded through said sleeve and engaging the steering shaft to secure the operating lever in adjusted position longitudinally of the steering shaft.

RUDOLPH W. PIERON. 

